I do not want to extend this debate because we are going off topic. Any day we mention Eoghan Harris is never a good day as far as I am concerned. The central point I want to make - and I will not fall out with people, well not much anyway - is that there is a weakness in this Bill. Just to be clear: I think this is the third time I am saying it – I support the Bill. I acknowledge this Bill as being a significant step forward. However, there is a weakness in terms of this issue of the first day of sick pay effectiv…

I move amendment No. 14: In page 7, line 8, after “day” to insert “equivalent to their full daily rate of pay”. We have discussed some of this already and but I would like to understand why the Government wants to set the rate of sick pay at 70%. Again, this really impacts on lower paid workers in particular. It just seems low. If we want to talk about balance, 70% does not strike me as the right balance. If someone is sick and they are unable to go to work, they should not be penalised for that. I have given the M…

I will be brief because I spoke earlier. I wish to highlight something that came up at a meeting of the tourism committee today. We are talking about low-paid workers. To be clear, the call from Sinn Féin is that the full daily rate of sick pay is paid. What the Government might not be aware of is that, according to Fáilte Ireland, whose statistics I do not doubt, 68% of people who work in the hospitality sector earn less than €12 per hour. That is seven in ten workers in that sector. It is a disgraceful figure, bu…

That is not what I said, but that is fine.

I move amendment No. 16: In page 7, line 11, after “may” to insert “equivalent to their full daily rate of pay”.

It is good to see this Bill back before the House. It is good that there has been a real consultation on the key issue of the service charge. I will begin by introducing our colleagues in the Gallery this evening. They are Joe Cunningham, general secretary of SIPTU, Fiona Dunne from the ONE Movement and Clem Shevlin from SIPTU. They are here specifically to listen to the debate on this Stage because they played a leading role in the campaign around my tips Bill in the previous Seanad and in the context of ensuring …

I thank the Minister of State for going through that. There was quite a lot to go through. With regard to mandatory services charges, as I have said I am very happy to accept the Government's amendments. I do not mind and I am not precious about which amendments get the job done. I acknowledge the fact there has been engagement on this. We have what I regard as a good result on the mandatory service charge issue. I want to take issue with several other amendments that fall into this broad category. This is where th…

I will be brief because I want to see this Bill progress this evening. I want to come back on one point to respectfully correct the Minister of State. What the WRC said in relation to my Bill was that it may not be enforceable, which is the same as saying it may be enforceable. The Minister of State can check that for himself. That is what is on the record. Here is my point. Without covering cash tips-----

I would never suggest the Minister of State had been mean to me.

As a Westmeath man to a Meath man, I would never suggest that. To be clear, there was certainly ambiguity in terms of that. I remember it at the time. Here is the point. If we do not include cash tips in some way, it means there is no recourse in any circumstance in relation to cash tips. We can do better than that. I will not delay matters but I will give one example from Limerick. Actually, it is the example that kicked off this whole conversation where a number of staff explained to me how at the end of the nigh…

It did not say that.

I move amendment No. 16: In page 6, to delete line 15 and substitute " Treatment of certain tips, gratuities and mandatory service charges ".

I move amendment No. 17: In page 6, line 18, to delete "or" where it secondly occurs and substitute "and".

I move amendment No. 18: In page 6, line 18, after "gratuities" to insert "and mandatory service charges".

I move amendment No. 19: In page 6, line 18, after "by" where it secondly occurs to insert "means of monetary payment and/or".

I move amendment No. 20: In page 6, line 21, to delete "or" and substitute "and".

I move amendment No. 21: In page 6, line 21, after “gratuities” to insert “and mandatory service charges”.

I move amendment No. 22: In page 6, line 21, after “by” where it secondly occurs to insert “means of monetary payment and/or”.

I move amendment No. 23: In page 6, line 23, to delete “or” and substitute “and”.

I move amendment No. 24: In page 6, line 23, after “gratuities” to insert “and mandatory service charges”..